Hundreds of drivers are currently stuck in traffic after a fatal crash on the M5.

The motorway was initially shut both sides this morning after a lorry and several cars collided between Bridgwater and Taunton in Somerset, with two air ambulances landing on the carriageway to airlift casualties to hospital.

At 11am Traffic England said: "The event is expected to clear between 18:00 and 18:15."

The M5 has been closed in both directions in Somerset after this serious multi-vehicle collision

Although the northbound part jut just reopened, southbound remains closed, with traffic continuing to build in the area.

Read More

"All the agencies are working as quickly as possible to reopen the northbound carriageway but the southbound carriageway is expected to remain closed for the foreseeable future while emergency services complete their work at the scene.

"We’re deploying well-rehearsed plans to release motorists currently held in the road closure. It’s important for motorists to remain in their vehicles to avoid further unnecessary delay."

According to travel information service INRIX, disruption is expected to continue for several hours, possibly all day, while recovery and investigation work is carried out.

Pictures from the scene show a complicated crash scene with several vehicles and a large emergency services presence around.

According to a police report disruption is likely to continue for "a considerable length of time given the nature of the road traffic collision."